Excerpts from an interview of Mr. Ignacio Deregibus, Executive Director, International Water Resources Association (IWRA) by Dr. Arvind Kumar, Editor, Focus Global Reporter.
Mr. Ignacio Deregibus, an expert in environmental policy and project management, is the Executive Director of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) since November 2016. He previously worked with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme and as an Environmental Policy Consultant with the OECD in Paris. In Argentina, he served as a Business Specialist at Accenture for over four years. An Argentinian and Italian national, Ignacio holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science (International Relations) from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master in Public Affairs (Sustainability) from Sciences-Po, Paris. His expertise focuses on water and sustainable development.
INTERVIEW
EDITOR: What do you see as the most pressing water-related challenges today, and how do you think they can be addressed?
MR. IGNACIO : The current, ongoing global water crisis is a multifaceted challenge intensified by climate change, overexploitation, pollution, and governance deficiencies. Lack of collaboration, insufficient financial investment in water infrastructure, degradation of freshwater and groundwater, deteriorating water quality, and the vulnerability of island communities, just to name a few, highlight the urgency for integrated solutions. Despite this, I am convinced IWRA is well positioned to address these issues through interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering a science-policy-practice interface that promotes sustainable water management strategies, and tackle these issues in a much more holistic and systematic approach.
EDITOR: How does IWRA’s mandate under the theme “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation” address the challenges posed by climate change to water resources globally?
MR. IGNACIO: The theme of our upcoming XIX World Water Congress, “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation,” reflects the urgency and complexity of today’s water challenges. Every week, we are confronted with stark reminders of a changing climate: unprecedented floods in regions that have never flooded, prolonged droughts threatening food security, and increasing tensions over limited water resources. These events underscore the need for actionable, inclusive, and forward-looking solutions.
The Congress, co-organised with Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, will take place in 1-5 December 2025 in Marrakech. It aims to catalyse concrete responses by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and promoting innovation across sectors. Participants, including researchers, policymakers, private sector, and civil society, will explore practical approaches to strengthening water systems through smarter governance, nature-based solutions, and technology-driven resilience.
By emphasising innovation and adaptation, the XIX Congress seeks to develop strategies that support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Initiatives like our World Water Envoys Programme, launched in 2019, will also amplify underrepresented voices, including youth and marginalised communities, to ensure that the dialogues at the Congress reflect diverse lived realities.
Ultimately, the XIX Congress is a direct expression of IWRA’s mission: to bridge science, policy, and practice through inclusive, evidence-based dialogue. By convening global expertise and local knowledge, it helps translate research into action–building more resilient, sustainable, and equitable water systems for a changing world.
EDITOR: How does IWRA facilitate the science-policy-practice interface to ensure that research findings on sustainable water management are effectively translated into actionable policies?
MR. IGNACIO: Through its events, publications, projects, Task Forces and Chapters, the Association serves as a bridge between scientific research and policy implementation for positive impact on the ground. IWRA’s initiatives aim to translate complex scientific findings into actionable policies, ensuring that water management strategies are grounded in robust evidence and are applicable. For instance, our flagship journal, Water International, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, continues to publish peer-reviewed research that influences both science and policy. To ensure accessibility, key findings from some of the journal issues and events are summarised into policy briefs– designed for decision-makers and the broader public.
IWRA’s events are also central to this interface. For example, at our inaugural Islands Water Congress which took place last year in the Faroe Islands, we brought together leaders of two island nations, supported their negotiation process, which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at our Congress. The MoU agreement is their promise to continue collaborating and sharing best practices in water management beyond the event. Additionally, IWRA also supported the drafting of a new water law that will be taken to Parliament in the Faroe Islands. Furthermore, we are also developing an Islands Water Policy Report from the Congress findings to offer targeted recommendations for island nations.
In all our work, IWRA is committed to transforming scientific insights into actionable knowledge products that guide sustainable water management policies, thus strengthening the link between research, practice, and governance on a global scale.
EDITOR: What role does IWRA play in promoting integrated water resources management (IWRM) at transboundary levels, particularly in regions facing acute water stress?
MR. IGNACIO: IWRA certainly plays a pivotal role in promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at transboundary levels, especially in regions experiencing acute water stress. By facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and practitioners, IWRA promotes the development of equitable and sustainable water management strategies across shared water bodies.
Through global events like the World Water Congress and strategic publications such as the Global Water Security Issues (GWSI) Series with UNESCO i-WSSM, IWRA disseminates research and best practices that inform and influence transboundary water governance frameworks. Our participation in international dialogues also contributes to shaping capacity-building efforts and institutional frameworks necessary for effective IWRM implementation.
Importantly, IWRA supports locally grounded action through its regional Chapters. For example, our Latin America and Caribbean Chapter is hosting a regional seminar series that brings together experts to exchange experiences and explore future challenges related to IWRM in their specific contexts. These types of initiatives ensure that IWRM principles are not only promoted at the global level but also adapted to the needs and realities of local and regional actors. By bridging global expertise with local application, IWRA strengthens the foundations for integrated and cooperative water management across borders.
EDITOR: How does IWRA collaborate with international frameworks like the UN Water Conference or regional organizations to advance global progress on SDGs related to water sustainability?
MR. IGNACIO: We actively collaborate with international and regional organisations to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water sustainability. Notably, IWRA participated in the UN 2023 Water Conference, organising a side event titled “Water–Economy–Ecology Nexus in a Changing Environment”, which focused on balancing human and ecological water needs. This event featured best practices from countries like the Netherlands, Tajikistan, China, and Indonesia, and aimed to support the achievement of the SDGs. We are also actively involved in the preparatory planning meetings for the second edition.
Additionally, IWRA’s Task Force on Water & SDGs works to adapt global goals to specific regional and local water management needs, addressing challenges such as data scarcity and the need for appropriate institutional support. IWRA also sits on the UN-Water Task Force, contributing to the selection of annual thematic priorities. These are just a few. Through all our collaborations and initiatives, IWRA plays a crucial role in contributing to actionable policies, ensuring that water management strategies are both evidence-based and applicable.
EDITOR: What measures does IWRA take to ensure that marginalized communities, including women and indigenous populations, are actively involved in policy making processes for sustainable water management?
MR. IGNACIO: Firstly, in all our initiatives, we make a conscious effort to ensure diverse representation so that a variety of voices are heard and included. This principle of inclusivity is a core element of IWRA’s engagement approach.
For example, one of our ongoing projects– the upcoming seventh edition of the Global Water Security Issues (GWSI) Series, developed in partnership with UNESCO i-WSSM–focuses on “Water and Gender.” This publication aims to highlight women’s rights and promote equal opportunities in water access and management. It will also contribute to the World Water Assessment Programme’s flagship report on the same theme, to be published in 2026.
IWRA also collaborates with organisations such as the Women for Water Partnership and the Women in Water Diplomacy Network to promote women’s leadership in transboundary water cooperation, ensuring that their voices are integrated into decision-making processes.
Another example is our inaugural Islands Water Congress, where Indigenous leaders and representatives from remote islands such as Fiji and Hawai’i were invited to share their traditional knowledge and perspectives on water management. The platform allowed these voices to be heard within a global, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral context.
In addition, our upcoming XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech will feature a sub-theme specifically dedicated to Indigenous knowledge under the broader focus on water innovation. We believe there is significant value in drawing on traditional approaches to water management alongside innovative technologies and innovations. Through these efforts, I believe IWRA contributes meaningfully to more inclusive and effective water governance worldwide.
EDITOR : How does IWRA contribute to achieving other SDGs, such as SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), through its programs and advocacy?
MR. IGNACIO: In my opinion, IWRA contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by ensuring these themes are reflected throughout its events, projects, and knowledge products.
For example, the sub-themes developed for previous Congresses and the XIX World Water Congress in Marrakech, specifically include topics related to climate change, ecosystem management, and disaster risk reduction – ensuring that discussions around SDGs 13 and 15 are integrated at the highest level of dialogue.
Further contributing to these goals, IWRA recently published the book Emerging Pollutants: Protecting Water Quality for the Health of People and the Environment, in collaboration with UNESCO. The publication, based on the UNESCO-IWRA Online Conference held in January 2023, presents scientific findings on aquatic ecosystem health, groundwater contamination, circular economy approaches, and wastewater reuse. Its policy-relevant conclusions also provide clear recommendations for managing pollutants in support of sustainable water and environmental governance in the context of global change.
These efforts align with global initiatives to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity, reinforcing IWRA’s role in advancing sustainable development on top of sustainably managing the world’s water resources.
